Grinding apparatus for valves



May 28, 1968 E. ANDERSEN 3,385,007

GRINDING APPARATUS FOR VALVES Filed Jan. '7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Een( fvfesf/V ATTORNEY May 28, 1968 E. ANDERSEN 3,385,007

GRINDING APPARATUS FOR VALVES Filed Jan. 7, 1965 5 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E19/K /vf/esw ATTORNEY May 2s, 196s Filed Jan. 7, 1965 E. ANDERSEN GRINDING APPARATUS FOR VALVES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 v a ||||l g m Nl@ 2f; l m L; r

:i 'J m "l w O vIWI nihil m N 1;' lu m F United States Patent O 3,385,007 GRINDING APPARATUS FOR VALVES Erik Andersen, Gronland 82, Drammen, Norway Filed Jan. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 423,933 6 Claims. (Cl. 51-29) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Valve-grinding apparatus comprises a clamp for releasably grasping the periphery of the valve head, and actuating means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stem. Fluid pressure means are provided for engaging and releasing the clamp, and also for raising and lowering the clamp bodily or for counterbalancing a desired portion of the weight of the valve.

The present invention relates to a grinding apparatus for valves provided with an actuating member which directly or through a transmission produces a preferably oscillating motion of the valve plate about its longitudinal ax1s.

The present invention is particularly intended for grinding of larger valves, such as valves in ships engines or the like.

On ships particularly, the grinding of valves is a significant item of maintenance. At the present time this work is usually carried out by two men. The valve housing is suspended in a jig and after a lever is mounted on the valve plate, grinding compound is placed between the valve surfaces and the valve plate is oscillated. This grinding operation is time-consuming, and it is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus for grinding valves which, amongst other things may be used in combination with the suspension of the valve housing in a jig, and which affords a more efficient grinding so that time and man power are saved.

One aims at a continuous or discontinuous angular displacement of the valve plate in relation to the valve seat, and in practice this is carried out, after the valve plate has been oscillated in the same position, by displacing the valve plate a determined angle in relation to the seat and resuming the oscillation, and the operation is thus continued in a circle. A better grinding is thereby obtained than if the valve plate is only oscillated in the same position, since one avoids the forming of dangerous hollows and scratches.

At regular intervals the valve plate must also be raised from the valve seat in order to remove the old grinding compound and replace it with new.

The object of the invention is thus to provide a grinding apparatus for valves, which apparatus is adapted to oscillate the valve plate in the valve seat and to effect the said angular displacement at certain intervals or continuously. The apparatus must moreover be such that the desired raising or separation of the valve plate and the valve seat may be effected when desired and necessary.

According to the invention this is obtained by providing a grinding apparatus for valves provided with an actuating member which directly or through a transmission produces a preferably oscillating motion of the valve plate about its longitudinal axis, and the invention is characterized in that between the valve plate and the actuating member, or between the valve plate and any transmission, is arranged an engaging and disengaging connection in the form of a clamp member which is so disposed that it bears adjustably against the periphery of the valve plate, or against an engaging surface for the clamp member attached to the valve plate.

Patented May 28, 1968 The actuating member, or any transmission, may be of any type desired and preferably adapted to produce an oscillating motion, and the primary object of the connection arrangement is that when the connection is disengaged the valve plate will remain stationary by reason of its weight, while the second half of the connection will follow the actuating member or the idling stroke of the transmission, so that the two half members of the connection are displaced in relation to each other, whereby the actuating member will change the point of engagement on the valve plate, so that an angular displacement of this in relation to the valve seat is obtained, whereafter the oscillating motion continues on this new position.

The secondary object of the invention is that the grinding apparatus may be connected to the valve in an easy manner, since the use of threaded holes, usually arranged in the Valve plate and which are often burnt out and destroyed, is avoided.

Ina preferred embodiment of the grinding apparatus according to the invention the clamp member is formed as two-armed lever rods which are pivotally mounted on a bearing member, one of said arms being intended for bearing against the periphery of the valve plate or against the engaging surface for the clamp member attached to the valve plate, and the second arm may be provided by a power member, preferably hydraulic or a member driven by compressed air, for instance in the form of a pressure ring arranged on the bearing member.

In order to even out irregularities in the suspension of the valve in the jig and the arranging of the grinding apparatus, the bearing member according to the invention is connected to the drive shaft of the actuating member or the transmission by means of a universal joint which allows compensation of relatively small inaccuracies which are produced by the suspension. Further according to the invention the bearing member may be provided with through, threaded holes for receiving screws, which screws are intended for bearing against the valve plate for regulating the position of the bearing member in relation to the valve plate or engaging surface.

According to the invention the universal joint may be constructed as a housing having two diametral, mutually crossing bores, in one of which bores a cylinder tap is rotatably mounted which forms an axial and rotatory bearing for a cylinder tap disposed in the second bore having a certain motion clearance which by its two ends is mounted in the bearing member, so that radial inaccuracies in the suspension may be equalized.

Raising and balancing of the valves weight is effected in that the spindle top of the valve is engaged by a raising means, but in a preferred embodiment according to the invention the drive shaft is formed hollow and has a cylinder chamber wherein a piston is movably disposed, said piston being attached to the universal joint by a piston rod which extends through the drive shaft. The drive shaft is, in this ease, attached to the universal joint in such a way that they may be axially displaced mutually. For the raising or balancing, compressed air is preferably used.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention are disclosed in the following description of some embodiment examples according to the invention, said embodiment examples being shown on the drawings.

In the drawings, FIG. l shows a vertical section through a preferred embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows an end elevation of the embodiment in FIG. l, partly in section and with the valve plate in raised position, and

FIG. 3 shows two embodiment examples of the clamp members.

1 is the valve housing and 2 is the valve plate. The valve housing is suspended in a jig in a manner known per se (not shown). The grinding apparatus is constructed as a relatively compact unit which is suspended on the valve housing 1 by means of the clamp ring 3. On the clamp ring 3 there are mounted three posts 4. The posts 4 support the housing 5 wherein the hollow axle 8 of the control apparatus is mounted with bearings 6 and 7. Uppermost in the drive shaft 8 there is arranged a cylinder chamber 9 wherein a piston 1t) is movably disposed. The necessary air supply to the cylinder chamber 9 is effected by means of the pipe 11. The drive shaft 8 is provided with a key groove member 15, by which it is in axially displaceable connection with the universal joint housing 14.

The piston 10 is rigidly attached to the universal housing 14 by the bolt 13 and spacing bushing 12, which bushing is glideably mounted in the drive shaft 8. When compressed air is supplied through the pipe 11, the piston 10 Will move upwards and thereby raise the universal joint housing 14.

The universal joint housing 14 has two diametrally extending and mutually crossing bores 16 and 17, and in the bore 16 a cylindrical tap 18 is rotatably mounted. The cylindrical tap 18 constitutes a pivot bearing for the cylindrical tap 19 which is led into the second bore with a certain clearance as shown at 17, and by its two ends is mounted in the bearing member 20 which is shaped as a cup having an extended base plate. Oil 28 is introduced into the cup for lubricating the universal joint. Brackets 21 project outwardly from the base plate, two brackets for each clamp member 23, which are mounted in the two respective brackets 21 by means of the cylindrical tap 22. The clamp member 23 is constructed as a two-armed lever whose one arm engages the periphery of the valve plate 2, and whose other arm is engaged by a pressure ring 24 which is mounted on the bearing member 20, so that there exists a pressure chamber 25. Compressed air is conveyed to the pressure chamber 25 through the pipe 26.

There are three such clamp members which are evenly distributed over the periphery of the circle, i.e., having 120 mutual angular spacing.

At each clamp member there are arranged two regulating screws 44. These screws serve for regulating the position of the bearing member 20 in relation to the valve plate 2. The pressure ring 24 is spring loaded by means of the spring 27 which presses the pressure ring back to neutral position when the air pressure is released.

The drive shaft 8 has two diametrally opposite crank arms 29 which are each moved by a compressed air cylinder 30. The compressed air cylinders are pivotally mounted in the housing 5, as shown at 31, and are rotatably connected with the crank arms as shown at 32.

In FIG. 3 are shown two variants of the clamp members, `and in the left half portion of the figure is shown how the clamp arm is mounted on a bolt 41, which is threaded to the bearing member 20a. The bearing member 20a is provided with a cylinder wherein the piston 43 is glideably arranged. The piston 43 may be loaded from underneath by means of compressed air. By displacing the regulator head 42 the clamp arm may be moved radially inwards or outwards and be adapted to the various valve plate diameters. The clamp arm 40 here does not directly engage the periphery of the valve plate, but engages the periphery of a clamp ring 39 which is fixed to the valve plate. Such an embodiment is particularly favourable and advantageous if the periphery of the valve plate is such that the clamp arm 40 must be supposed to have a poor engagement against the periphery of the valve plate and the clamp ring may moreover 'be used in connection with the embodiment in FIG. 1, since there is provided a clamp ring 39 for each actual valve diameter, all of which clamp rings have the same engagement diameter for the clamp members. A further adjustable embodiment is shown on the right hand side of FIG.

3, where the clamp arm may be connected with the pressure ring 24 by means of the cylindrical tap 35. In lugs 33 on the pressure ring three holes 34 are arranged for optional disposition of the cylindrical tap 35, depending on the desired diameter to be adjusted. The clamp arm is mounted in the slot 38 by means of the cylindrical tap 37.

The mode of operation ofthe grinding apparatus should be evident from the drawing and the description, and only the most important features are summarized here:

The grinding apparatus is tirst tightly fastened around the valve housing by means of the clamp ring and the bearing member is fixed onto the valve plate, i.e., the clamp arms are allowed engagement with the periphery of the valve plate. The pressure ring is then loaded and the clamp arms will then be clamped into close engagement with the valve plate. Thereafter the pneumatic operation cylinders are activated so that the drive shaft is given the above mentioned oscillating motion. This oscillating motion is transferred to the valve plate and the grinding is now in full swing. The necessary grinding compound is applied in advance.

Raising of the valve plate is carried out in the shown embodiment example by means of the raising cylinder 9 in that air is supplied through the pipe 11 to the underside ofthe piston 10.

When a feeding of the valve plate in relation to the valve seat is desired, i.e., the before lmentioned angular displacement, the pressure ring is unloaded, the clamp arms release their clamping engagement and at the next idling stroke of the operation the cylinder will be displaced on the periphery of the valve plate. The valve plate has relatively substantial weight and will not be carried along by this motion of the clamp arm. At the end of the idling stroke the pressure ring is again loaded, and the clamp arms will again be in clamping engagement and will transfer the oscillating motion to the valve plate. In this manner the operation is continued in a circle.

The angular displacement may be program controlled, but it may also be controlled by hand, at the discretion of the operator.

The grinding apparatus may also be operated manually, eg., in that the bearing member 20 is engaged directly by a lever, and if suitable, one may in this case arrange the raising cylinder so that this acts at the spindle top of the valve. This is not shown more closely inasmuch as it is merel-y technical. Even by manual operation of the grinding apparatus advantages are obtained in comparison to previous methods of hand grinding, since the operator is spared from moving around the valve housing inasmuch as he remains stationary and effects the oscillating motion and allows the clamp arms to change position on the valve plate as necessary.

An important advantage of the grinding apparatus according to the invention is that one is independent of the usual thread holes in the valve plate. Usually these thread holes will be burnt out and unusable. One may thus also use the clamp member means to advantage in connection with an actuating member which is given a rotatory grinding motion, even though in such a grinding method change of engagement is unnecessary. By use of a raising cylinder, a correct balancing of the weight of the valve is obtained and thereby the best grinding result is obtained, Le., scratching is avoided. This is obtained in that an adjustable reduced pressure may be maintained in the raising cylinder.

I claim:

1. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a plurality of clamps, a member on which said clamps are mounted for pivotal movement, power ,means for oscillating said member about the axis of the valve stem, each clamp being a two-armed lever having one arm that extends radially inwardly under the periphery of a valve head like a wedge to grip the valve head between said one arm and said member, and remotely controlled means for pressing against the other said arms selectively and simultaneously 5 to engage or release the clamps with and from the valve head.

2. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a clamp for releasably gripping the periphery of a valve head, power means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stern, remotely controlled means for seleztively engaging and releasing the clamp with and from the valve head, said clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members each of which is a two-armed lever having one arm that bears against the periphery of the valve head, said remotely controlled means pressing against the other said arm to engage the clamp, a drive shalt coaxial with said valve stern, said power means acting on said drive shaft to oscillate the same about its axis, a support member on which said levers are mounted for swinging movement, and a universal joint connecting said drive shaft and said support member, said universal joint comprising a male member and a female member, said male member having two intersecting bores therein, a cylindrical member rotatably mounted in one said bore, a shaft passing through the other said bore with clearance and passing through said cylindrical member, said shaft being pivotally secured at its ends in said female member on opposite sides of said male member.

3. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a clamp for releasably gripping the periphery of a valve head, power means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stem, remotely controlled means for selectively engaging and releasing the clamp with and from the valve head, said clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members each of which is a two-armed lever having one arm that bears against the periphery of the valve head, said remotely controlled means pressing against the other said arm to engage the clamp, and set screws carried by said clamp and engageable against the valve head to adjust the position of the clamp relative to the valve head.

4. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a clamp for releasably gripping the periphery of a valve head, power means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stern, remotely controlled means for selectively engaging and releasing the clamp with and from the valve head, and Huid pressure means for moving the clamp bodily axially of the stem of a valve to be ground.

5. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a clamp for releasably gripping the periphery of a valve head, power means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stem, remotely controlled means for selectively engaging and releasing the clamp with and from the valve head, said clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members each of which is a two-armed lever having one arm that bears against the periphery of the valve head, said remotely controlled means pressing against the other said arm to engage the clamp, and fluid pressure means movable axially relative to said clamp and engageable with said other arms of said levers simultaneously to move all of said levers relative to the valve head.

6. Valve-grinding apparatus comprising a clamp for releasably gripping the periphery of a valve head, power means for oscillating the clamp about the axis of the valve stem, remotely controlled means for selectively engaging and releasing the clamp with and from the valve head, said clamp comprising a plurality of clamp members each of which is a two-armed lever having one arm that bears against the periphery of the valve head, said remotely controlled means pressing against the other said arm to engage the clamp, rst uid pressure means for bodily moving said clamp toward and away from the Valve head, and second fluid pressure means for moving said other arms of said levers relative to said clamp, said second fluid pressure means being annular and coaxial with said rst fluid pressure means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,709,428 4/ 1929 Carpenter 51-29 2,540,715 2/ 1951 De Genova 51--29 2,560,816 7/1951 Petersen 51-29 3,220,431 11/ 1965 Morrell 137-2436 FOREIGN PATENTS 571,200 5/ 1924 France.

690,802 9/1930` France. 1,069,657 7/1954 France.

558,213 11/ 1928 Germany.

LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT C. RIORDON, Examiner.

J. A. MATHEWS, Assistant Examiner. 

